Infielder Kim Ha-sung (30) joined hands with the Tampa Bay Rays, who were in danger of losing his FA. The U.S. media believe that Tampa Bay had no choice but to recruit Kim Ha-sung due to the long-term departure of shortstop Wander Franco (24), who has fallen into a nuisance in Tampa Bay.메이저사이트

The Major League website MLB.com reported on the 30th (Korea time) that Tampa Bay has agreed to a two-year contract with shortstop Kim Ha-sung. He can exercise the opt-out when he finishes this season on the condition that he receives 29 million dollars (about 41.9 billion won). When the contract is finalized, Kim Ha-sung will receive 13 million dollars (about 18.7 billion won) this year, the highest salary in the team. If he does not exercise the opt-out, he will receive 16 million dollars (about 23.1 billion won) in 2026, according to the report.

MLB.com also said, "Kim Ha-sung's total of 29 million dollars is the fifth largest amount in Tampa Bay's history. It is the largest amount since Greg Vaughan, who signed a four-year, 34 million-dollar contract with Tampa Bay in December 1999."

If Franco, who was Tampa Bay's flagship shortstop, did not commit an offense, there was no reason to recruit Kim Ha-sung by giving him the highest salary in the team. Franco surprised the industry by agreeing to an 11-year, $182 million (about 262.7 billion won) extension contract with Tampa Bay in November 2021. Although the contract itself was large, Tampa Bay, the representative small market in the Major League, drew attention because it literally spent a lot of money.

Franco was a top prospect who signed with Tampa Bay at the age of 16 in July 2017. As soon as he made his Major League debut in 2021, he ranked third in the American League Rookie of the Year vote and became a top player. In 2023, his third year in the big league, he was named an All-Star with a batting average of 0.281 (124 hits in 442 times at bat), 17 homers, 58 RBIs, and an OPS of 0.819.

Franco committed the crime when he was about to have a top shortstop as Tampa Bay expected. In August 2023, he was placed on indefinite administrative leave from the Major League Baseball secretariat for sexual and commercial exploitation and human trafficking charges against minors. In July last year, Tampa Bay placed Franco on the restricted list and did not pay him any salary. Franco, who is on trial for sexual exploitation and human trafficking of minors, is known to be subject to up to 20 years in prison. In November last year, he raised eyebrows over an incident in which he pulled out a firearm from a parking lot of an apartment in his hometown of the Dominican Republic and got caught in a dispute with another man by local police.

"MLB Trade Rumors," which deals with the news of the Major League transfer market, said, "Tampa Bay is a club with question marks over shortstop. The long-term answer was Franco, but he has not played since August 2023 when he was found to have exploited sex against minors. The legal process is still in progress, but it would be very surprising if he returned to the Major League."

There is also no right shortstop to replace Franco. MLB Trade Rumors said, "Taylor Walls, Jose Caballero, and O'Slevis Basabe are on the roster, but they all lack offense in their careers. Prospect Carson Williams may become the new shortstop in the future, but he still needs a little more time in the minors. Williams is not yet 22 years old, and he spent the entire last season in Minor League Double-A. Although he made four Triple-A appearances in late 2023, Tampa Bay would like him to spend a little more time in the minors before making his major league debut."

Tampa Bay chose Kim Ha-sung as the right person to buy time for promising Williams to grow, replacing Franco, who often commits deviations and violations. Kim Ha-sung is divided on his batting ability, but boasts an outstanding defensive ability to cover shortstop, second baseman, and third baseman, and a main force proven by 78 steals in his career.

Kim Ha-sung entered the Major League through a posting system, signing a four-year, $28 million contract with the San Diego Padres ahead of the 2021 season. It was the best year of his career in 2023, his third year in the big league. He spent his career high season batting 0.260 (140 hits in 538 at-bats), 17 homers, 38 steals, 60 RBIs, and OPS 0.749, in 152 games. He became the first Asian infielder to win the Gold Glove (utility category) and raised his ransom by setting a new record for the most stolen bases in a single season of Korean major leaguers.

However, he strained his shoulder in the most important season ahead of the FA last year. He had been sluggish in 121 games with a batting average of 0.233 (94 hits in 403 times at bat), 11 homers, 22 steals, 47 RBIs, and an OPS of 0.700, and even suffered a shoulder injury in August. Kim aimed to return to the ground ahead of the fall baseball season, but his injury was more serious than expected, eventually being put on the operating table in October last year.

Immediately before the opening of the FA market, the injury was fatal. Kim Ha-sung was classified as a major contractor worth more than 100 million U.S. dollars, but his ransom has dropped by more than half since the injury. He also expected a short-term contract of two to three years. He could hardly afford to play on the ground since the opening of this season. Kim expects to recover from the injury as early as May.

Tampa Bay had to invest in Kim Ha-sung, who has yet to confirm the timing of his return from injury due to the pettiness of Franco. It may be considered a waste of double spending right now, but if Kim Ha-sung returns healthy, it is clear that he will show more value than the amount of investment. Kim Ha-sung is expected to prepare for the season by clenching his teeth more than any other year as he showed his willingness to re-examine the FA by adding an opt-out clause after this season.